Can puncturing device



y 1941- w. J, KERSHENSTEIN 2,249,631

CAN PUNCTURING DEVICE Filed March 11, 1940 INVENTOR. (J1 Niam J. Ke rshensZe/k Patented July 15, 1941 strap stares raranr 22%,681 DAN EEJNQTURIING DEVECE William .E. Kershenstein, Detroit, Mich. Application March iili, lt id, Serial No. 323,873

(on. se-ic) 4 3 Dianna.

in the top of the can, which holes are preferably oppositely disposed to one another near the outer edge of the can top. This facilitates the removal oi the liquids from the can, inasmuch as the liduid can be poured from one hole while th air enters the can through the other hole.

The principal object of the invention; there'- iore, is to provide a device which will enable the user to puncture such holes in a can top in an efficient mariner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which is adjustable to cans of different diameters.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character referred to which is provided with resilient elements adapted to serve as a protective element to the cutting members when not in use, and which serve as stabilizers to the cutting elements at the beginning of the work stroke, and further assist in the removal of the cutting elements from the can alter the work stroke has been completed.

A rurther object of the invention is the provision oi a device of the character referred to which is simple in construction, economical to manuiacture and one which has a wide variety of applications.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be more readily understood as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portions of a can which has already been punctured with a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview of the device illustrated in Fig. 1- at the completion of the puncturing stroke.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 5 is a view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of a device embodying my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the draw ing, it will be understood that in general, my improved device consists of a hand grip t, supporting elements d and do: and puncturing or cutting elements it and Mia, arranged as illustrated in Fig. l. The grip t is adapted to rest in the palm of the hand so that the fingers of the operator may extend thereunder and between the end por- .tions of the supporting elements 9 and ta.

.- The-grip member d is provided with tunnel members H, which extend around the upper reaches oi the supporting elements 9 and 9c, the

latter being slotted as at it to accommodate bolts it. which pass through the slots i2 and apertures it formed in the tunnels ii. The members ii and to are locked in position by means of the wing nuts it. This arrangement permits the supporting elements 9 and ta to be adjusted with reference to one another and prevents them from rotating about the bolts l3.

The puncturing or cutting elements it and Mia may be of any desired size and shape and may be secured to the supporting elements s ud 9a. in any suitable manner, such as by threads or brazing.

Secured to the underside of the. supporting elementsd and do, by any suitable means, are spring members it which are adapted to encircle the cutting elements it and ita. The springs it, in their normal positions, are slightly longer than the cutting elements wand ita, and serve as guards for the sharp pointed cutting elements, when not in use. The free ends of the springs it are arranged to contact the can top it before the points oi the cutting elements strike, thereby providing a comparatively broad contact surface for the device before the cutting elements it and ltd commence their work. After the work stroke is completed, the springs it serve the further purpose of assisting in the removal of the cutting elements from the can top H. 4

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the manner in which the can is punctured to provide the dispensing hole i8 and the air intake hole It. In using the device, the supporting members 9 and 9c are adjusted to the desired position so that the holes it and it will be properly located. The operator then grips the device so that the fingers extend around the grip 8 and benealth the upper reaches I of the supporting members 9 and 9a. The free ends of the springs I6 are then positioned on the can top if and pressure is exerted on the top of the device so that the cutting elements III and Illa. are forced through the top I! sothat the desired results are accomplished. The cutting elements. l0 and Illa are then withdrawn in Figs. sand 3.

Although I haveillustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inelusive, the supporting elements 9 .and 9a as being adjustable, it is also within the contemplation of the invention to make the supporting members integral with one another as indicated at 9b in Fig. 4. In this embodiment the grip 8 is not a continuous member, but terminates in the ends 8'. These ends are secured to the member 8b by means of rivets l I.

In this embodiment the cutting elements lilb and lllc are formed integral with the supporting member 9b by stamping sections of the metal from the member 9b as indicated at 20. The stamping operation required to form the cutting elements lilb and We would preferably take place while the supporting member 9b is fiat and before it is bent into the form illustrated in Fig. 4. In this embodiment the springs it are secured to the supporting member 922 by means of ears 2| which are also struck from the supporting member and which are bent as shown in Fig. 4, to engage the springs l6 and to hold them in position.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated another modification of my device in which the device takes the i'orm oi a single cutting element 22 mounted in the end or a. wooden handle 23, and provided with the spring guard 24 which is held in place by any suitable means such as a collar 25.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by I etters Patent is:

1. A can punching device consisting of a. strip of metal bent to form a loop, there being ears formed on one portion of said strip, said ears being bent and re-bent to form tunnel like members beneath said loop, J -shaped members adapted to engage said tunnel members and punches secured to said J-shaped members.

2. The device defined in claim 1, in which the ends of said J-shaped members which engage the tunnel members are slotted, and the tunnel members have apertures therein in alignment with said slots, there being adjustable locking means extending through said apertures and said slots.

3. The device defined in claim 1, in which the J-shaped members are slotted atone end to engage the tunnel members, and the punches are provided with concentric springs, which said springs in extended position are longer than said punches and serve as guards for said punches when the same are not in use.

WILLIAM J. KERSHENSTEIN. 

